Al Hatley

I am Alan Hatley aka AlCapWes. I am 61-years-young. I am a prisoner being held at the old Illinois state penitentiary (Stateville) in Joliet, Illinois. I&#8217;m serving a LIFE sentence for Murder and Home Invasion. I&#8217;ve been locked up since November 6, 1989. I&#8217;m from the city of Chicago, a neighborhood called K-Town, located in the city&#8217;s 24th Ward known as North Lawndale, 60623, where I have no street affiliations.

Sasa, looking back over my life, I can see with clear accuracy an evolving sense of myself as I learned to become independent. At an early age it was quite apparent to me that fun was somehow associated with drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, dancing, nk, as the adults would frequently display in every gathering. As my awareness grew, so did more obvious reasons for drinking alcohol. Life&#8217;s problems began to surface. Soon thereafter, my horizon began to expand. I began to partake in marijuana, pills, Acid/LSD, Heroin, and Codeine. I&#8217;m a child of the 1960 and 70s, and I&#8217;ve learned a lot.

In April 1978, I pled guilty to plain robbery. I was sent down-state for 2-to-6 years, which may inform that my prison registration number C-81444 came before Illinois dismantled its parole system. Upon re-entering the system a little more than ten years later, that C-number changed to A-81444 to signify that no parole option was open to me. Now left in its wake- Get Tough on Crime, The War on Drugs, The Age of Super-Predators, and the rise of the Prison Industrial Complex– all I believe are clear Human Rights Violations, as well as contravening evolving standards of decency, which bears out the rising national consciousness, injustice permeates the landscape. So perhaps this sense of affordable redress may purchase or even make a down-payment to secure a future . . . aiming to set a remedial course toward equality.

Now fast approaching my 27th consecutive year of imprisonment, I am so much more able to utilize the vast array of choices which I may direct my life as I&#8217;ve come closer to understanding myself with regard to needs versus wants. I take solace in the fact that through whatever storm (loneliness, heartbreak or sorrow) I&#8217;ve learned to embrace me, myself and I so as to see you all better.

I look forward to writing on Live kutoka lockdown and hope to hear from you.